Farmakonisi

Two Turkish F-16 violated again the Greek airspace, but this time they flew over the small island of Farmakonisi.

A total of 43 migrants and refugees were rescued off the southern Aegean islet of Farmakonisi on Tuesday, the Greek Coast Guard has said.

Officials said all 43 were transferred to the nearby island of Leros.

Turkish authorities Friday issued navigational telexes reserving an area in the central Aegean between the islands of Psarra, Skyros and Evia for naval exercises planned for a large part of next month.

Ahead of that, the Turkish Navy is to start a major exercise code-named Denizkurdu (Seawolf), which Greek authorities will also be monitoring closely.

Turkish coast guard vessels entered Greek territorial waters near the islets of Imia, in the early hours of Wednesday, Kathimerini understands.

The Turkish boats were reportedly monitored by vessels of the Hellenic Navy and Coast Guard.

Turkey came very close to crossing Greece's red lines in the Aegean last week, when a Turkish coast guard vessel fired shots in Greek territorial waters east of the islet of Farmakonisi, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias told Skai Television's "Istories" program Tuesday night.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has said that Ankara came "very close" to crossing Greece's red lines in the Aegean when one of its coast guard boats fired live ammunition during an excercise in Greek territorial waters near the islet of Farmakonisi in the eastern Aegean on Friday.

Athens is viewing the recent spike in violations of Greece's air space and territorial waters by Turkish ships and jets as a test of its resolve.

Tensions between the two countries escalated further on Friday after a Turkish coastal patrol boat fired live ammunition during a military exercise in Greek territorial waters in the eastern Aegean.

Tension between Greece and Turkey escalated further on Friday after a Turkish coastal patrol boat fired live ammunition during a military exercise in Greek territorial waters in the eastern Aegean Sea.

A Turkish military patrol boat fired shots early Friday morning in the area around the eastern Aegean island of Farmakonisi, the Greek defense ministry said.

According to the ministry, Turkish authorities issued a Navtex on Thursday informing of a military exercise with live ammunition in the area east of Farmakonisi on Friday morning.